Why do Rail Industry Workers need to be medically assessed?


The National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers underpins the system for monitoring the health of rail safety workers in Australia. The Standard was developed in consultation with industry, rail unions, rail safety regulators and health professionals to provide practical guidance for rail transport operators for managing the risks posed by the ill health of rail safety workers. 


Rail operators accredit doctors and other health professionals to perform the assessments. Accredited health professionals then carry out the assessments using the Standard.


All health assessments for rail safety workers are conducted in line with the current edition of the National Standard.


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RIW Knowledge Centre Article Link:

https://support.riw.net.au/support/solutions/articles/51000030163






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How does a company upload a medical assessment to a Rail Industry Worker profile?


Some Authorised Heath Professionals (AHP’s) can directly upload a medical assessment to a Rail Industry Worker profile in the RIW System.  A list of the AHP’s that offer direct upload can be found on the RIW website here.


If the AHP is not providing this service, companies can submit an Upload Medical Certificate Service Request at https://www.riw.net.au/contact-us/request-a-service/ by selecting category and sub-category mentioned in the below screenshot:

Please ensure all information is included, and that a scan of the medical assessment (Part B - Fit Slip) only is attached. Please do not include the full medical assessment.



Medical assessments are generally processed by the RIW Service Desk within 3 business days via this method.


Companies can also fast track a medical assessment within 8 business hours for a fee.  For more information, please refer to the How can a company request a fast track medical assessment?



Article Link:

https://support.riw.net.au/support/solutions/articles/51000030162



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How can a company request a fast track medical assessment?


This article details how to submit a rail health (medical) assessment, drug and/or alcohol assessment or additional medical information result for fast track processing with the RIW Service Desk.


Generally, medical assessments are completed within 3 business days. Should a Rail Industry Worker need to be on site sooner, companies can fast track the process (including up to 20 competencies) in eight (8) business hours for AUD$55.00+GST.  If documentation submitted is incomplete or incorrect, the fast track may take longer to complete.


The RIW Service Desk performs this service Monday to Friday, 0700-2000hrs (AEST/AEDT).


Note: Do not submit or pay for fast track competencies in the RIW System if a medical that requires fast track is also required.


If you have multiple Rail Industry Worker's that require fast track, complete a separate service request for each worker.



This instruction applies to the following user roles:

  • Advanced Project Admin
  • Employer Admin
  • Employer Admin - No Payment


1


Go to the Fast track medicals service request at https://www.riw.net.au/contact-us/request-a-service/


Choose correct category and sub-category.y



2


Fill in the required details, noting that fields marked with an asterisk (*) must be filled in.




Upload the relevant certificate(s) by clicking on the Browse button to find the file(s) on your computer and upload.


If you also have competencies for this Rail Industry Worker that you would like fast tracked as part of this request, please tick this box that you have competency verifications also pending. The RIW Service Desk will action any competencies pending verification for the worker (limit is 20 including the medical).


To speed up the verifications process, please email competency names that require fast track to info@riw.net.au.


NOTE: Do not submit or pay for fast track competencies in the RIW System if you also have a medical that requires fast track.  Use the Service Request form only.


3


Once all the fields are completed and the document has been uploaded, add Credit Card details to complete payment.


 

Click on Pay now.

4


Once payment is complete, you will receive a confirmation email with tax invoice.


IMPORTANT! Please note that record of this transaction will NOT be available in the RIW System Payment History function as this Service Request is made outside of the RIW System. 




Article link:

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How will employers be notified if a cardholder is deemed unfit for duty after a medical assessment?


If a cardholder is deemed unfit for duty or fails a drug and alcohol test after a medical assessment, the Primary Employer will be emailed with the medical update upon the results being loaded into the RIW System. 


Additionally, the outcome of all medicals will be visible to the Employer by viewing the cardholder profile in the system as soon as the data is uploaded by the Authorised Health Professional or RIW Service Desk.



RIW Knowledge Centre Article Link:

https://support.riw.net.au/support/solutions/articles/51000030161


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What happens with the cardholder subscription if the cardholder I want to employ fails their medical assessment?

When a company registers a brand new cardholder, a ‘basic’ profile containing the cardholders core details is created in the RIW System. At this stage, there is no requirement for a cardholder subscription payment to be made.


After the cardholders profile is created, the cardholder can undertake the required medical assessment through an Authorised Health Professional (AHP)


Some Authorised Health Professionals (AHP’s) can directly upload the medical assessment to the RIW System. However, if not using this service, companies can submit an Upload Medical Certificate Service Request at https://www.riw.net.au/contact-us/request-a-service/ by selecting category and sub-category mentioned in the below screenshot:


Medical assessments are generally processed by the RIW Service Desk within 3 business days, although a fast track option is available to expedite medical assessment processing in eight (8) business hours (fee payable) if required.


Naturally, if a cardholder fails the medical, the company can choose not to employ the cardholder and simply insert a ‘leave date’ for the cardholders employment. Once this occurs, the cardholders profile will be removed from the employer’s account, and no further cardholder fee is payable.


After the new cardholder has passed the medical, the company can proceed with an ID check and cardholder fee by following the directions in our RIW Knowledge Centre article How does a company add a new cardholder to the RIW System?



RIW Knowledge Centre Article Link:

https://support.riw.net.au/support/solutions/articles/51000030159


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Video - Work restrictions and risk assessments for Employers





RIW Knowledge Centre Article Link:

https://support.riw.net.au/support/solutions/articles/51000077429


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How does a company monitor forthcoming and expired medicals?


This article details how a company can monitor forthcoming and expired rail health (medical) assessments in the RIW System.



This instruction applies to the following user roles:

  • Advanced Project Admin
  • Employer Admin
  • Employer Admin - No Payment
  • Employer Admin - Read Only
  • Helpdesk


1


Go to https://app.riw.net.au and log in using your credentials.

2


Click on Expiries > Medicals.

3


On the Expiries screen, click on Medicals from the left-hand menu. The screen will automatically populate all the rail health (medical) assessments that are:
  • Expiring in the next 90 days, identified in AMBER 
  • Expired in the last 365 days, identified in RED


NOTE: This screen will display all expired medicals, even if the Rail Industry Worker has completed a new rail health (medical) assessment.  It is best to check the worker's profile to see if a newer medical has been undertaken.


A more refined search can be applied by populating the search fields with the Rail Industry Worker detailsOr you can Show All, Show Forthcoming, or Show Expired by clicking on the appropriate radio button and Search.



You can also export the list to a *.CSV file by clicking Export.

4


To check the expiring item, click on the Rail Industry Worker record and Edit. This will take you to their Rail Industry Worker profile where you can immediately assess the status of any other rail health (assessment) medicals recorded for the worker.





To report on expiring rail health (medical) assessments greater than 90 days, consider running a custom report or using the RIW Microsoft Power BI integration.



Article link:

https://support.riw.net.au/support/solutions/articles/51000151822




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How does a company find an Authorised Health Professional


This article provides a link to the list of Authorised Health Professionals that can assess rail workers for the RIW Program.



This instruction applies to the following RIW System User Roles:

  • Employer Admin
  • Employer Admin (Premium Functionality Employer)
  • Employer Admin - No Payment
  • Employer Admin - No Payment (Premium Functionality Employer) 
  • Employer Admin - Read Only
  • Employer Admin - Read Only (Premium Functionality Employer) 
  • Helpdesk
  • Medical Provider User
  • myRIW User (i.e. RIW cardholder)
  • Network Manager
  • Network Manager - Read Only



Step 1: Go to the Locate an AHP webpage

Go to https://www.riw.net.au/authorised-health-professionals/#find-an-ahp. 


Step 2: Enter search criteria

Enter search criteria to narrow down your search.


Step 3: Check Results

Check the results of your search to make sure that the provider can perform the assessment that you need.



Contact the provider to make sure that their details are current.



RIW Knowledge Centre Article Link:

https://support.riw.net.au/support/solutions/articles/51000203568




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What is additional medical information?


In October 2022 we introduced additional medical information functionality to the RIW System that allows the management of a variety of medical information that is not a rail health assessment (medical) or a drug & alcohol assessment. This functionality uses the same secure management applied in the RIW System, so Rail Industry Workers can be assured that their personal information is managed in accordance with the Permission Access Agreement.


Some examples of additional medical information could include:

  • Immunisations, such as COVID-19 Vaccinations
  • Colour blindness tests
  • Lead and silica monitoring
  • Audiometric monitoring


Additional Medical Information can be added to a Rail Industry Worker profile directly by an Authorised Health Professional or uploaded by an employer and verified by the RIW Service Desk.  


Additional medical information may be included as a job role requirement, contributing to its validity, which could affect a Rail Industry Worker's access to site. It also allows for items to expire after a set period, allowing companies to manage monitoring reassessments or boosters. 


If your company needs to manage additional medical information that is not currently available in the RIW System, complete the Request for item to be added to the Additional Medical Information at https://www.riw.net.au/contact-us/request-a-service/ by selecting category and sub-category mentioned in the below screenshot: 

The relevant State Chief Medical Officer, Chief Medical Officers Council, or National Rail Industry Operations Committee will review and approve requests before they are added to the RIW System. 




Article link:

https://support.riw.net.au/support/solutions/articles/51000309306


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How does a company upload additional medical information for a Rail Industry Worker?


This article details how a company can upload additional medical information for a Rail Industry Worker.



Some Authorised Heath Professionals (AHP’s) can directly upload additional medical information to a Rail Industry Worker profile in the RIW System.  A list of the AHP’s that offer direct upload can be found on the RIW website here.




This instruction applies to the following user roles:

  • Advanced Project Admin
  • Employer Admin
  • Employer Admin - No Payment
  • Helpdesk


1


Go to https://www.riw.net.au/contact-us/request-a-service/

Select correct category and sub-category 

2


Fill in the service request details, noting that any item marked with an asterisk (*) is a mandatory field.

The Additional Medical Information Type drop down must specify the exact type of document to be uploaded.

To check what evidence is required to meet the type, please refer to the Additional Medical Information Business Rules.

3



Additional Medical Information submissions are generally processed by the RIW Service Desk within 3 business days.


Companies can also fast track the request within 8 business hours for a fee.  For more information, please refer to the How can a company request a fast track medical assessment?




Article link:

https://support.riw.net.au/en/support/solutions/articles/51000309980




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How does a company monitor forthcoming and expired Additional Medical Information?


This article details how a company can monitor forthcoming and expired Additional Medical Information items in the RIW System.


Additional Medical Information is any other medical information type that is not a rail health (medical) assessment or Drug and Alcohol assessment. This could include items such as immunisations, lead and silica monitoring or colour blindness tests.



This instruction applies to the following user roles:

  • Advanced Project Admin
  • Employer Admin
  • Employer Admin - No Payment
  • Employer Admin - Read Only
  • Helpdesk


1


Go to https://app.riw.net.au and log in using your credentials.

2


Click on Expiries menu.

3


On the Expiries screen, click on Additional Medical Information from the left-hand menu. The screen will automatically populate all the items that are:
  • Expiring in the next 90 days, identified in AMBER 
  • Expired in the last 365 days, identified in RED

A more refined search can  be applied by populating the search fields with the Rail Industry Worker detailsOr you can Show All, Show Forthcoming, or Show Expired by clicking on the appropriate radio button and Search.




You can also export the list to a *.CSV file by clicking Export.

4


To fix an expiring item easily, click on the Rail Industry Worker record and Edit. This will take you to their Rail Industry Worker profile where you can immediately update the item.






To report on expiring additional medical information items greater than 90 days, consider running a custom report or using the RIW Microsoft Power BI integration.



Article link:

https://support.riw.net.au/support/solutions/articles/51000312944




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